Hajj

What Does Hajj Mean in Detail?

Hajj is the largest annual gathering of human beings on Earth, bringing together two to three million Muslims from virtually every country, ethnic background, and social class. It takes place during the 8th through 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The obligation of Hajj is established in the Quran: 'And pilgrimage to the House is a duty owed to Allah by people who are able to find a way there' (3:97). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed one Hajj in his lifetime — the Farewell Pilgrimage (Hajjat al-Wada) in 10 AH (632 CE) — which established the rites as practiced today. The Hajj rites follow a precise sequence over several days. On the 8th of Dhul Hijjah (Yawm al-Tarwiyah), pilgrims enter ihram and proceed to Mina. On the 9th (Yawm Arafah), they stand at the plain of Arafat in the most critical rite of Hajj (wuquf). After sunset they move to Muzdalifah, where they spend the night and collect pebbles. On the 10th (Yawm al-Nahr, the Day of Sacrifice), they stone Jamarat al-Aqabah, offer an animal sacrifice (qurbani), shave or trim their hair (halq or taqsir), and perform Tawaf al-Ifadah. The 11th, 12th, and 13th (Ayyam al-Tashreeq) involve stoning all three Jamarat pillars and spending nights in Mina. Before departing Makkah, pilgrims perform Tawaf al-Wida (farewell tawaf). There are three types of Hajj: Ifrad (Hajj only), Tamattu (Umrah first, then Hajj with a break in ihram), and Qiran (Umrah and Hajj combined in one continuous ihram). Tamattu is the most commonly practiced and was recommended by the Prophet. A pilgrim who completes a valid Hajj is given the honorific title 'Hajji' (male) or 'Hajjah' (female), and the Prophet stated that 'an accepted Hajj has no reward except Paradise' (Bukhari and Muslim).